Brews and BBQs: More of everything

Oregon Brews & BBQs will be back Friday through Sunday, Sept. 6 to 8, with more beers, more booths and more beneficiaries.

The event, open to all ages, also will feature food and live music. It will run from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday in McMinnville's Granary District, Fifth and Lafayette Avenue.

Admission is $10, which icludes a tasting mug and two tickets for beer samples. Tickets for additional beer tastings are $1 apiece. A premium admission, which includes an etched pint glass and 10 beer tickets, costs $20.

Non-drinkers get in for $5. Children younger than 12 will be admitted free, and special kids' zone activities will run throughout the festival.

Proceeds will benefit GhanaHope, a charity that helps people in the African country with medical needs; and St. James School, a private Catholic grade school.

This is the sixth year for Brews & BBQs. Habitat for Humanity volunteers started the fundraiser, then turned it over to Ghana Hope in 2012. This year, St. James School supporters joined to help run the event.

Last year's festival drew about 7,000 visitors. This year, organizers are hoping to attract 10,000, said Steven Singleton, who is helping with the event for the second time.

"This year, we'll have a lot more taps and more beers and ciders, more barbecue places and a Beer Geek area," he said.

The latter will feature all things beer, from information about home brewing to products for beer enthusiasts. Women of Beer will have a booth, as well various other vendors.

Raffles are planned for prizes such as growlers and a keg-o-rator. On Sunday, a special brew dedicated to WWII veteran Leonard DeWitt will be on sale, with proceeds going toward erecting a statue in his honor.

Volunteers are still needed to help with set up, clean up, admission sales, taking tickets and keeping the festival "green." For volunteer opportunities, contact Jill Addison, at http://obb.ivolunteer.com/event_001.

For more information in general, go to the website www.oregonbrewsandbbq.com.